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Along with the attention his announcement received, Brown also found himself the target of criticism from Jeanne Shaheen and his Republican primary opponents.

“All I’m asking you to do is keep an open mind and listen and give me a chance to earn your trust and support. That’s it,” he said.

Brown met with voters inside the home of South Hampton Police Chief Eddie Edwards Saturday morning. At the event, he suggested U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is being hypocritical for asking him to take a pledge against third-party money in the campaign.

“Four months of negative ads run by her and her supporters, these third-party groups. It kind of smells of Washington politics,” Brown said.

During the Republican Conference in Nashua, Brown’s would-be primary opponents said the former Massachusetts senator isn’t New Hampshire enough or Republican enough for the race.

“You have to connect with the Republican primary voter,” said Republican candidate Jim Rubens. “You have to answer the questions. You have to be trustworthy. You have to have character. You have to have background. You have to have roots in the state.”

As a driving force behind his decision to explore a run, Brown’s wife Gail appeared ready for what could be a grueling and bruising campaign.

“I’m all in,” she said. “I’m going to be going around with Scott. I’m going to be talking with people, and I’m hoping that people will keep an open mind.”

Brown said he hopes to have a more formal announcement in a few weeks.